Micros Yip
For 10 years, Micros Yip has roamed the streets of Hong Kong taking pictures of stray cats. His touching photographs, which highlight the plight of strays, will be shown at the Cultural Centre. He talks to Grace Tsoi about why he finds felines an irresistible subject.
HK Magazine: Why did you start taking pictures of stray cats?
Micros Yip: When I was a kid, I wasn’t sure if I liked cats or not because I had very little opportunity to be around them. My family didn’t keep a cat, my relatives didn’t have cats, and there were none in my neighborhood. After graduation, I started working as a newspaper photographer and I had to travel around different places for work. I had a lot of chances to see cats in the street. Gradually, I got into the habit of taking pictures of stray cats whenever I had a break from work.
HK: Is it very easy to spot cats in Hong Kong?
MY: You can always see cats in Hong Kong. In online photography forums, some people upload photos of cats and others will reply that they have never seen cats in that area. We have to bear in mind that cats do not appear in noisy, crowded places. Most of the time, they will hide in back alleys, under canopies, in parks and in places less frequented by pedestrians. It’s not that difficult to trace them; you just have to pay attention.
HK: Are they afraid of people?
MY: Some cats are very vigilant, and they will move away instantly if you try to approach them. But for the majority of them, they will feel at ease if you keep a distance from them. A small proportion of cats will try to get people to play with them, or pet their heads. I won’t feed the cats when I am shooting pictures because I want to capture the living of stray cats in a natural way. It’s not necessary for me to take pictures all the time. If the cats are in the mood to play, I will play with them.
HK: Where are your favorite spots for shooting cat photos?
MY: I live in the Tsuen Wan area, and so I usually take pictures in that neighborhood. There is one temple in Tsuen Wan that keeps a lot of cats. Ten years ago, I started going to that temple. I started mingling with the cats and getting to know more about them.
HK: Why do you find it so interesting to take pictures of stray cats?
MY: In the beginning, I loved taking pictures of kittens because they are very cute. But as time went by, I became fascinated by the interaction between stray cats and the urban environment. 
HK: What do you think of Hongkongers’ attitudes towards stray cats?
MY: Most private housing estates are spacious, but the management will not allow even a few cats to stay in the area. They feel that because the space is constructed by humans, it should only be inhabited by humans. But actually, cats take up very little space. Many people complain about stray cats because of their excrement, or because they can get very noisy when they caterwaul while looking for a mating partner. Also, some cat lovers may feed them and make the neighborhood dirty. So many people will call up the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to catch the animals. These people may not intend to kill them, but they may not realize that once caught by AFCD officers, it’s quite certain that they will be put down.
Yip’s photography exhibition will take place at the Cultural Centre starting March 17. You can also find Yip’s photos of stray cats on his website, www.streetcatfoto.hk.